Spar-tree protector and fastening device for high-lead blocks



W. R. ALLEN AND T. K. McREA. SPAR TREE PROTECTOR AND FASTENING DEVICE FOR HIGH LEAD BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,1921.

Patented July 18, 1922.

INVENTOR8,

O O E:

I R a 1 A TTORNEY.

WILLIAM E. ALLEN AND THOMAS K. EVIGBEA, 0F GLACIER, 'WASHINGTON; SAID HIGBJEA ASSIGNOR TO SAID ALLEN.

SPAR-TREE PROTECTOR AND FASTENING DEVICE FOR HIGH-LEAD BLOCKS.

Application filed July 18,

To all w ham it may concern:

Be it known that we, WiLLiAM R. ALLEN and THOMAS K. Molten, citizens of the United States, residing at Glacier, in the county of lVhatcom and State of Washington, have invented. a new and useful Spar- Tree Protector and Fastening Device for Highead Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in high-lead block fastening and protecting devices for spar trees used in high-lead logging, and the objects of our improvements are to provide a simple and safe fastening and protecting device, to separate the device into two parts which can closely fit trees of different diameters and make installation easier, and to fastenv the strain and guy members in a manner to cause the separate parts of the protecting device to be drawn against the tree.

Wi e attain these objects with the device illustrated in the accompany ing; sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 is, a planview of a spar tree with our devi e in place, Fig". 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1 and Fig. '3

a side elevation of 1. 7

Similar characters refer to throughout.

More particularly the spar tree.

4-, 4: are two similar curved sheets of boiler similar parts A. is the top part of plate formed to it the spa-r tree with a space between opposite edges of the plates.

is a saddle plate spiked to the top of the spar tree.

6, 6 are ears fastened on the upper ends of the middle of plates t with which is engagged cable 7 over saddle plate 5 for sup porting the plates.

8, 8 are ears on back plate i to which are fastened guy cables IO. 7

9.. 9 are cars on front plate 4 to which are fastened guy cables 11.

12, 12 and 12, 12 are two pairs of cars fastened to the edges of plates 4, each of which is provided with aring 13,. Each pair of rings 13 is engaged with aclevis connected to one of the two guy cables 14.

15, 15 are two ears, each fastened to an edge of back plate 4:. p

' To each of ears 15 is fastened a curved link. 16, the two constituting a pair, the eyes Specification of Letters Patent. Pajgntgd J l 15 1922.

1921. Serial No. (85,778.

in the lower ends of which are engaged with clevis 17, which is connected to high-lead block 18, in which is riven line cable 19.

20, 20 are two cars fastened to the edges of front plate 4:.

To each of cars 20 is fastened a curved link 21, constituting a pair the lower eyes'of which are engaged by clevis 22 connected to high-lead block 23, inwhich is riven cable 24.

In high-lead logging in the northwest the spar trees are subjected to very heavy strains. As usually rigged, they are also e3:- posed to attrition from the heavy blocks and moving cables which they support. These destructive forces sometimes operate to weaken the tree to a degree which unfits it for the great strains which it must bear and it breaks, allowing the rigging to fall, causing loss to the operator and, not infrequently, the loss of lives of operatives.

Hitherto devices have been offered to provide the spar trees with protection. but as understood, they either have been ineffective or so heavy and poorly designed. as to be well nigh impossible to install.

In our improvements we have had in mind a structure as light as the heavy duty makes safe, and a design that will permit its easy installation and provide for a distribution and direction of the operative strains which will aid in retaining it in place.

Although the limitations of the drawings suggest a smaller distance, we prefer to locate the top ofplates 4 about six feet below the top of the tree. In erecting. a block is fastened on the top, and a cable riven therein affords a ready means of hoisting the protecting plates to their operative places. With these plates properly installed on supporting cable 7 the mounting of the rigging is an easy matter.

By dividing the protecting plates in two, their installation as stated is made possible, their adaptability to varying sizes of trees is assured, and the portability of the rig is favored; while our method of using these protecting; plates for attachment purposes also, in the manner shown, not only retains these plates in their operative position but distributes the pressures of the operative strains over wide areas of the spar tree without injury thereto.

each in an car on one o'l said plates.

posinp; strains on cables 14- thus tend to ll, ll. resist the line strains on block la. Said guys are fastened to front plate 4-" While block is fastened to ears 15, 15 on hack plate 4;. Thus line strains on cable 19 tend to force plates 4L together.

Guys 1O, 10 resist the line strains on block Said guys are fastened to back plate a hile said block is fastened to ears 20, 20 on i.':ont plate Thus also line strains on cable L -l tend to draw plates l toward each other.

it is. of course, understood that the top only ot the spar tree and its rigginp are shown in the drawings, and that guys 10, 11 and 14- are each anchored to the groundand each is provided with a pair of blocks in line, or a Winch, for making and keeping them taut.

Having thus fully disclosedour invention,

hat we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In combination, a spar tree. a pair of curved plates mounted on opposite sides of said tree and not entirely surrounding said tree, and a high-lead. hlock fastened on one side oil said tree to the plate on the opposite side 0'? said tree from said block and adapted to hear on the iilate adjacent to said hloclr when not unoeroperative strain.

2. In combination, a spar tree, a pair of curved plates mounted on said tree and not entirely surroundingsaid tree, a pair of Each is fastened to hoth of plates highdead blocks, each fastened to the plate on the opposite side of said tree from said block and adapted to hear on the plate adjacent to said: block when not under operative strain.

3. In combination, a spar tree, a pair of curved plates mounted. on opposite sides of said tree but not entirely surrounding said tree, a plurality oi. guy Wires fastened to the ground and to,said plates adapted to cause said plates to approach each other and bear against said tree, and a pair of highlead blocks each fastened to the one of said plates Which is on the other side of said tree from said block.

ln combination, a spar tree, a saddle plate mounted ontop of said tree, a pair of urved plates mounted onopposite sides of said tree and not entirely surrounding" the same, a supporting cable bearing on said saddle plate and having each end fastened toone oi said curved plates, two pairs of adjacent ears, one of said pairs of ears fastened on each of the adjacent edges of said curved plates, a ring in each of said cars, a shackle engaged with each pair of said radjacent rings, a pair of oppositely-pulling guy wires each fastened to the ground and to one of said shackles, twin guy Wires fastened to the v round and to the opposite edges of one or said plates adapted to cause said plate to bear against said tree, twin guy wires fastened to the ground and to opposite edges of the other ot said plates aeapted to cause said' plate to hear against said tree, and a pair of hig'lrlead JlOCkS on opposite sides of said tree, each fastened to one said plates on the opposite side of said tree from said hlock; i

WILLIAM R. ALLEN. TEIOIVIAS K. MORE'A. 

